Nigeria does not own nuclear weapons and has never sought to develop a nuclear arms programme, according to Jimoh Ibrahim, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Speaking at the 108th Plenary Meeting of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Ibrahim reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to global nuclear disarmament and the total eradication of nuclear testing.
During his address, the Nigerian envoy—who also serves as Chairman of the UN Committee on Budget and Administration—advocated for a review of Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter. He argued that the principle of non-intervention in a nation’s internal affairs should not hinder international action against states that conduct nuclear tests or hoard weapons of mass destruction.
Conveying the stance of President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim explained that Nigeria maintains robust regulatory mechanisms and institutions to monitor weapons of mass destruction. He highlighted the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission as a core body managing the nation’s nuclear framework and activities.
He further noted that Nigeria maintains active partnerships with global powers, including Russia, China, France, South Korea, and the United States. According to the envoy, President Tinubu instructed him to reiterate Nigeria’s willingness to build stronger international alliances to eliminate nuclear weapons testing worldwide.
Aligning Nigeria’s position with the African Group, Ibrahim marked the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by praising the global community’s progress. He stressed that Africa remains a nuclear-weapon-free zone that rejects nuclear explosive testing, urging UN member states to maintain momentum toward removing the threat of nuclear weapons to ensure a safer world.
